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Good morning, Golden! I wasn’t going to say anything beyond telling a handful of neighbors and friends (because frankly, it’s embarrassing), but one Goose’s confession is another Goose’s Public Service Announcement. See my write-up below
which I am, in fact, currently drafting from the ER.

So that’s how my week has been going. But I’m safe, people are wonderful, and my tarot reading this past week (thanks, Ben!) says all signs point to Judgement. I think that’s a good card
right? Right, guys? 😳

Oktoberfest đŸș kicks off this Saturday, and Fall 🍁 officially arrives next Tuesday, so I hope you’re ready. Golden has no shortage of events for my all my beer-hoisting-pumpkin-spice-loving-leaf-peeping folk.

Until then, be sure to head to Golden’s second Golden Hour Mash-Up this Wednesday and support some local businesses!

In today’s issue:

  • 🩇 Bat PSA

  • 🍁 Beer-hoisting-pumpkin-spice-loving-leaf-peeping Events

  • 📋 Trivia

  • 📌 Bulletin Board

  • 📆 Events This Week & Upcoming

🩇 Bat PSA

TLDR: Found a rabid bat. Went to the ER. Please read the Bat safety info at the bottom.

Apparently, no good deed goes unpunished — or at least not without several follow-up calls from JeffCo Public Health and a trip to the ER. 😆

In case you missed the City of Golden’s Instagram post, which they also resurfaced in last week’s Golden Roundup, a bat found near 9th and Cheyenne tested positive for rabies.

And
I’m the one who found it.

Or, in the immortal words of Taylor Swift: It’s me, hi. I’m the problem, it’s me.

So, before we get to some actual bat-ucation, allow me to solve the mystery of how Golden’s rabid bat was found.

Four weeks ago, I was walking my dog near 9th and Cheyenne when I heard a tiny cry coming from the ground. I looked down and spotted a small bat with a badly torn wing.

I initially kept walking. Then, naturally, I spent the rest of the walk thinking about this tiny fuzzy creature suffering or getting stepped on. (I’m that person who can’t watch a movie if I know the dog dies.)

Eventually, I called around and connected with Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance, which agreed to take the bat after reviewing photos of its injury. Great organization, by the way. I got a little tour and would absolutely recommend supporting them. But I digress.

Important detail: I did NOT touch the bat, get bitten, or come into contact with it. I researched how to safely contain an injured bat and followed those precautions.

Fast-forward about three weeks.

As I mentioned last week, I’d been without cell service. When I turned my phone back on, I had many unread texts, and buried among them was a screenshot from a friend about the rabid bat.

I turned to my husband and asked, “Do you think that’s my bat? Batty?!”
(I still name animals like a 5 y.o. 😂)

His response: “There’s not a non-zero chance.”

Then I kept scrolling.

JeffCo Public Health had texted me.

And called me
three voicemails. And mailed two letters. And emailed me multiple times.

I am not joking when I say: thank you, JeffCo Public Health (shoutout to Jackie), for aggressively looking out for this Goose. Not all heroes wear capes.

We finally connected after the holiday weekend. Based on everything I told them, I’m “likely fine.” But because rabies is fatal once symptoms appear — and, at this point, I was sufficiently paranoid — I decided to err on the side of caution and get the vaccination.

Turns out part of that treatment is only available through a hospital - a jab of immune globulin to a large muscle (chose the leg over the booty 😅), plus the first of four rabies vaccine doses in the arm.

Hence: my completely unexpected ER field trip.

RIP Batty. I lived to tell the tale.

So, your friendly neighborhood Bat PSA:

  • If you find an injured animal in Golden, call Golden Animal Control first!

  • Rabies is fatal, and a typical incubation period is 2-3 months before you begin to see symptoms. The doctor told me one symptom is Hydrophobia and that people stop drinking water because they think they’ll choke to death (it’s neurological after all). đŸ€Ż

  • Get your dog vaccinated from rabies! Dog bites and scratches cause 99% of the human rabies cases, and can be prevented through dog vaccination and bite prevention. Foothills Animal Shelter offers low cost vaccine clinics.

  • Bat bites can be so small that you might not even know they’ve bitten you. If you’re in close proximity to one (i.e. one is in your house), be safe and just get the rabies vaccine. The shot didn’t feel as bad as they led me to believe — kinda sore afterwards like a flu shot.

  • If raccoons also eat from your fruit trees at night and you’re worried about them being rabid, JeffCo Public Health confirmed that rabies doesn’t last outside the host for very long and UV light rapidly inactivates the virus. 🩝

Bat’s all, folks! 🩇

🍁 Beer-hoisting-pumpkin-spice-loving-leaf-peeping Events

I see you, Fall lovers. These events are for you. 🍂 Gourd things come to those who wait.

xoxo,
Team Summer

P.S. You better be-LEAF I’m going to squeeze all the puns out of this season.

Will keep this Fall highlights list going for a bit as more events pop up!

📋 Trivia

Keeping this one on theme, and then we are DONE with this topic...if not my vaccinations. đŸ« 

True or false: All bats are federally protected.

Answer at the end

📌 Bulletin Board

New Artwork Outside Golden History Museum - Check out the new historic piece of work by artist Yazz Atmore.

20th Annual Golden Gallop This Weekend - Sign up for Sunday’s race! Options: 5K, 10K, 20K Challenge, Kids Fun Run, or the ol’ Sleep In option.

Community Clean Up Days This Weekend - Once-a-year opportunity to dispose of non-hazardous, unwanted junk for free (see list). Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Disposal at 1300 Catamount Drive. Bring proof of residency (no water bills).

Ash Borer Treatment Rebate - “City of Golden residents may apply for an approved re-imbursement from the City of Golden (up to $500) for treatment or removal/replacement of eligible ash trees to protect against EAB.”

Help Needed at BGOLDN pantry starting Sep 1 through October - “Volunteers are the lifeline of our programs, and this time of year we run short of your support. Several volunteer shifts are open.” They’re looking for volunteers to fill their food rescue shifts and grocery delivery shifts.

Reminders:

Thriving Communities and Arts & Culture Grants Available - “The City of Golden is announcing $500,000 in grant funding for 2027 Thriving Communities and Arts and Culture Programs! Applications are due by 10:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2.”

Next Golden Hour Mashup is Wed, September 16 - Don’t forget to mark your calendar for Golden’s second (of three) Mashups. “Businesses across Golden will stay open late with one-night-only experiences
”

📆 Events This Week & Upcoming

Highlighted in green = Kid Friendly

MONDAY (9/14)

TUESDAY (9/15)

WEDNESDAY (9/16)

THURSDAY (9/17)

  • đŸȘŽ Make Your Own Beaded Plant Class at Holidaily (9/17 @ 6pm) - “Join this sip and craft class by Smash-a-Craft and create your own stunning beaded plant while enjoying delicious local brews!”

  • đŸŽ” WanderFest 10 Year Anniversary Party at New Terrain (9/17 @ 12pm) - “It has been TEN years since we opened our doors back in 2016, so let’s celebrate our anniversary with epic amounts of music, mouthwatering rare beer releases, multiple food trucks, and more.”

FRIDAY (9/18)

  • 🗑 VOLUNTEER: Community Highway Cleanup at The Eddy (9/18 @ 9am) - “Join us for our quarterly highway cleanups! We will gather at The Eddy Taproom and Hotel lobby at 9am.” To note, you’ll need the watch the videos before participating.

  • đŸŽ” WanderFest 10 Year Anniversary Party at New Terrain (9/17 @ 12pm) - “It has been TEN years since we opened our doors back in 2016, so let’s celebrate our anniversary with epic amounts of music, mouthwatering rare beer releases, multiple food trucks, and more.”

  • đŸ„‘ Hormone Health & Nutrition for Men & Women at Unite Fitness (10/18 @ 5:30pm) - Free! “Join Restorative Health of Colorado and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Alisa Williams at Unite Fitness for a community conversation about hormone health, nutrition, energy, strength, and healthy aging.”

SATURDAY (9/19)

  • 🗑 Community Clean-up Days! (9/19 @ 8am-3pm) - “Once-a-year opportunity to dispose of non-hazardous, unwanted junk for free (see list).” Bring proof of residency (not a water bill).

  • 🏃 Break of Dawn Trail Race (9/19 @ 7am) - 10 or 5 mile route options on North Table. “Run with purpose — help families move from homelessness to self-sufficiency.” Event by BeyondHome and BPRUNCO.

  • đŸŽ” WanderFest 10 Year Anniversary Party at New Terrain (9/17 @ 12pm) - “It has been TEN years since we opened our doors back in 2016, so let’s celebrate our anniversary with epic amounts of music, mouthwatering rare beer releases, multiple food trucks, and more.”

  • 🍂 Paint Night at Cannonball (9/19 @ 5-7pm) - “Feeling Fall? 🍂
    Join us for a night of paint & pints!” No experience needed.

SUNDAY (9/20)

  • 🏃 20th Annual Golden Gallop (9/20 @ 7:45am) - Sign up for Sunday’s race! Options: 5K, 10K, 20K Challenge, Kids Fun Run, or the ol’ Sleep In option.

  • 🗑 Community Clean-up Days! (9/19 @ 8am-3pm) - “Once-a-year opportunity to dispose of non-hazardous, unwanted junk for free (see list).” Bring proof of residency (not a water bill).

  • 🐐 Baby Goat Yoga at Lions Park (9/20 @ 9am) - Last one of the season!

  • 🛍 Fall Market at Jeffco Fairgrounds (9/20 @ 10am) - “We are excited to bring everyone back together for another vibrant lineup of local vendors, community partners, live music, food, and fun. Every registration made, booth visited, and purchase fulfilled supports the vital programs that make life better for the pets and people of our community.”

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • 🩙 Celebrate National Alpaca Day at The Eddy (9/21 @ 5-7pm) - A FREE event at the The Eddy. Please leave your 4 legged family members at home that night.

  • 🍁 Sculpt Air Dry Clay at Golden Library (9/24 @ 5pm) - “Fall is in the air so don't leaf your creativity behind! Create fall themed air dry clay magnets with Holly Nordeck of Foothills Art Center!” For ages 19+.

  • 🏕 Campfire Stories at Bivy Beer Bar (9/24 @ 6pm) - Grab a beer and listen to a story of adventure.

  • ⛰ VOLUNTEER: National Public Lands Day (9/26) - “Join one of many county-wide cleanups, then celebrate at Bear Creek Lake Park with food trucks, live music, and a raffle.” Registration required for one of the locations.

  • 📚 Golden Silent Book Group (9/26 @ 1-2:30pm) - “Bring your own book to read in peaceful silence for one hour, followed by 30 minutes of optional conversation and mingling.” August through December!

  • ☕ Made to Move Trail Run + Hike + Coffee (9/26 @ 8am) - “Join Together We Move & Paradis Sport for a morning of movement, community & time together in Golden.” Run or Hike North Table (2 groups), then join for coffee provided by Confluence at 801 Brickyard Circle. Free. Registration required.

  • đŸ€ž Handstand Workshop at PranaTonic (9/27 @ 12pm) - “Whether you're kicking up for the very first time or looking to refine your handstand practice, this fun and empowering 90-minute workshop is designed to help you build strength, confidence, and body awareness in a supportive environment.”\

  • ⚙ Gear Swap w/ Rapidgrass at New Terrain Brewing (9/27 @ 12pm) - “Gear Swap & sample sale with FERAL & a live set from Rapidgrass! Shop deals on used outdoor goods and sell your extra items.”

  • đŸšČ Golden Bike Cruise: Zombie Edition (9/29 @ 5:30pm) - Come dressed as a Zombie for this year’s FINAL cruise!

  • 📚 Books & Benders Book Club at Cannonball (9/29 @ 6pm) - Everyone welcome. This month’s book is “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore. October 27th is “The Dog Stars” by Peter Heller (I’m reading that now!); November 24th “Wild Dark Shore” by Charlotte McConaghy.

  • đŸ· 2nd Annual Golden Wine Festival (10/3 @ 11am-5pm) - “The 2nd Annual Golden Wine Festival will feature over 20 Colorado Wineries, Retail and Artisan Vendors, Live Music and food trucks” at Tony Grampas Park.

  • 🕯 Make & Take: Adorned Coconut & Soy Wax Candles at Earth Sweet Boutique (10/8) - “Join us in this warm & cozy class as we transition seasons and make beautiful candles!”

  • đŸŒ¶ Golden’s Original Chilifest 2026 (10/10 @ noon) - To enter as a Chili Chef, email [email protected].

  • đŸ‘» Mines Museum Spooktacular (10/17 @ 2-5pm) - “Mines Museum is throwing a Monster Mash! Join us for a super fun, FREE, teal pumpkin trick or treat event.” All ages.

  • đŸŽ€ Stories Worth Telling Festival at The American Mountaineering Center (10/16-10/18) - “Stories Worth Telling Festival is proud to showcase live storytellers, artists who bring personal narratives to life through voice, presence, and direct connection with the audience.”

  • đŸ€  2026 Golden Frontier Gala (10/24 @ 5:30pm) - Save the date for the Golden Civic Foundation’s gala in support of BGOLDN. First 50 ticket purchasers will receive a complementary Miner’s Alley ticket.

  • 🏕 American Alpine Club Gala at Buffalo Rose (10/24) - “The American Alpine Club’s Annual Gala brings the climbing community together for an evening of celebration, recognition, and connection.”

  • 🌕 Full Moon Hike & Yoga at New Terrain Brewing (10/25 @ 4:30pm) - “Let’s move, connect, breathe and flow together under the full moon at North Table Mountain. Enjoy a short hike at North Table Mountain with a gentle yoga practice at the top under the full moon.”

  • 🏃 Golden Hell Week (10/26-10/30) - An incredible week on the local trails! Run one or all routes.

THANKS!

False. Many (but not all) bat species are federally protected – valued for their contributions to ecosystems and few in numbers. Source

Thanks & have a great week! đŸȘż

© 2026 The Golden Goose.
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